Hairdressing Traineeship

Are you a creative person with a flair for working with your hands, an eye for style and a passion for fashion? Do you also enjoy meeting and working with other people. If so, hairdressing may be the career for you. This course is for people who are starting out in hairdressing and those who have some knowledge and basic skills in the industry – probably from a role where they worked under supervision. Participants will get the opportunity to learn hairdressing theory and practice, gain salon experience and achieve a recognised qualification. They will develop the knowledge and skills to cut, shampoo, condition, blow dry, style, perm and colour hair and learn many of the other competencies required to work in a commercial hair salon. The learning outcomes are easily transferred to the workplace and graduates of this course will seek positions as junior hairdressers and stylists.

This course will run in our in 2 locations – starting at the same time – Monavalley Campus and Listowel Campus.

What you’ll study

Delivery Methods

Entry Requirements

Job Opportunities

Working in the Hair Industry – Understand the requirements for working in hairdressing, the career prospects, the development opportunities and the basic employment rights and responsibilities within the hairdressing industry.

Health and Safety in the Salon – Understand the main provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, employers’ and employees’ responsibilities, hazards, risks and emergency procedures. Maintain healthy, safe and secure work practices and follow emergency procedures in the salon.

Client Consultation for Hair Services – Understand the methods of communication required to obtain information and provide advice on a variety of salon services and products. Understand the basic structure of the hair and skin, the hair growth cycle and the characteristics of the different hair types. Carry out client consultations.

Shampoo and Condition the Hair and Scalp – Select suitable products and use appropriate techniques to shampoo and condition hair.

Promote Products and Services to Clients in a Salon – Identify additional products and services for clients. Outline the stages of the sale process and describe how to interpret buying signals, secure agreement and close the sale. Explain the legislation that affects the selling of products and services.

Cut Women’s Hair – Understand the main factors that need to be considered when cutting hair. Cut women’s hair into basic one-length, basic uniform layered and basic graduated looks. Develop layering, club cutting, scissor over comb and freehand cutting techniques.

Perm and Neutralise Hair – Perm and neutralise hair using appropriate products and techniques. Understand how to select suitable winding techniques, choose suitable products for use, work safely and efficiently, and give aftercare advice when perming and neutralising hair.

The Art of Dressing Hair – Style and dress women’s hair using basic techniques such as setting, blow-drying, finger drying, straightening and dressing long hair. Understand how styling the hair affects the hair structure and how humidity affects the resulting style.

Create an Image Based on a Theme within the Hair and Beauty Sector – Prepare and implement a mood board demonstrating your imaginative and creative skills. Demonstrate the ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team.

This is a full-time course of 34 weeks duration. This consists of 4 days/week in the training centre and 1 day/week in a hair salon. A number of training methods are used to deliver it. These include instructions, presentations, skills demonstrations, tutorials, discussion groups, role plays, giving and receiving feedback, supervised practice in a realistic hairdressing environment and workplace training in a hair salon. Participants are required to actively participate in the learning process and to engage in course work outside of normal course hours. They must complete a number of written exercises and practical assignments throughout the course and keep up-to-date records of their progress. A number of methods are used to assess the participants’ progress and for certification purposes. These include portfolios, supervised practice, written tests, on-line theory tests and practical hairdressing assessments.

Reached the statutory school leaving age.

Junior Certificate or equivalent. A science subject at Junior Cert level or equivalent is an advantage.

Demonstrate evidence of an interest in and knowledge of the industry.

Good hand-eye co-ordination and good finger dexterity, i.e. the ability to use hairdressing tools and equipment safely when working on clients’ hair.

Ability to identify basic shapes and to visualise the end result of a hairstyle.

Good colour vision.

Outgoing personality and good communication skills.

Good general appearance.

Previous full-time or part-time work experience in a commercial hair salon is an advantage.

A letter from the owner or manager of a hairdressing salon offering work experience is an advantage.

Hairdressing offers a rewarding and diverse career. On successful completion of this course you will have acquired knowledge of hairdressing theory, developed hairdressing skills, gained salon experience and obtained a recognised qualification. The next step in to seek employment as a junior or apprentice hairdresser in a commercial hair salon. The best place to do this is in a salon that offers a structured training programme leading to additional hairdressing qualifications. These programmes generally take 2 years or more to complete. With further training and experience you can become a senior stylist or salon manager focusing on running the business. Hairdressers also have the option of becoming self-employed and opening their own salons or seeking employment in health and beauty spas, hospitals, care homes, TV studios and on board cruise ships.